Mt 15:7-8

"And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay longer over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" ~ Matthew 15:7-8 (ESV)

Father, you are a God of justice, and one day you will enact your justice throughout the earth. But, you are also a God of patience. You were patient with the Israelites, from the beginning. And you are patient with people still today. I pray that during this time, while there is still time, you will change peoples' hearts and let them hear Jesus calling them. Change their hearts and let them know of your greatness and love. And I pray that I and others who have been adopted as your children will not lose heart or grow weary of waiting for our reward and justification. Give us the strength and spirit to use this time wisely for your glory. I pray that I will be among the faithful because you have made me persevere to the end. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Missions Monday

Father, you are a missionary God. You are not only the supreme ruler, and not only master, but you are the loving father who made a way for helpless, rebellious people to be reconciled to you. And you did this for your glory and renown. Let all the earth praise your name.

Father, I ask that you bless the ministry of T, the new worker in Slovakia. Give him courage to risk for your name. Open the hearts and ears of those who hear of you through him and his fellow workers. Use T and other believers in Slovakia to change the world around them.

I pray for M and her coworkers in Asia. Give them boldness to speak of your love. Open doors for them to spread your good news. Work in the hearts of those people who have surrendered to you through M's ministry, and use those new believers to reach their families and friends. Make your glory spread through Asia. Keep M and her coworkers healthy and satisfied in you.

I pray for Ionel and the other workers in Romania. Give them words to speak as they reach out to the people around them.

I pray for the Martinez's in South America. Bless their work and grow their churches through your Spirit.

And I pray that you would help me be a missionary in my world.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

reformation

"‘O Lord God, you have only begun to show your
servant your greatness and your mighty hand.
For what god is there in heaven or on earth who
can do such works and mighty acts as yours?"
~ Dt. 3:24, ESV

Father, you truly are great and wondrous. You created the entire universe--its vast reaches and unfathomable expanse--by your own will. And you created every single human, including me. And you did all this for the glory of your name.

And you sustain everything by your power, according to your will, for your glory. May all creation praise you and tell of your magnificence.

Teach me your word. Give me a heart to know you and live for you. Let my passion in life be to bring you glory and enjoy you forever.

And let my passion for you overflow in front of others. Let me be a witness for you. Make me a city on a hill; make me live so that people see you working through me and give you glory. Bring me opportunities to share your good news, and give me the words to speak when those opportunities appear to me.

Bless my church family; unite our hearts together as the body of Christ. Let us experience the fullness of your Spirit, and use us to present your glory and grace to our community and throughout the world. Teach us your word and give us hearts to love your truth.

Teach me to use my career for your glory. Teach me to work for you and not for worldly purposes.

I ask these things confidently by the name of Jesus, my high priest and advocate before you. Amen.

more on prayer

More on prayer from Desiring God:

9 ways to pray for your soul

What to pray for our children

Desiring God prayer week

A few recent Desiring God posts on prayer:

Promises of Answered Prayer
"The best way to strengthen our faith and our resolve is to read what God has promised to those who pray. Here is a sampling:"

10 Reasons to Pray the Scriptures
"Here are some of the reasons you should pray and meditate over biblical truth."

What Should we Pray for?
"One way to answer this question is to look at what the early church prayed for. Here is a list gathered from the New Testament. It can guide you in how you pray. "

long absence

I haven't posted for more than 3 weeks.

Since my last post, I've finished reading the Gospel of Mark and Evangelism & the Sovereignty of God. But, that's about it as far as spiritual things. I've been so busy now that I'm back at school and teaching Earth Science, Biology and World Religions. I have a Google Reader that is piling up with posts from Desiring God, Church Matters, etc. I have 58 unread posts on Challies Dot Com alone.

So, for the two people I know who read this blog--assuming one of them hasn't given up--I can ask for your prayers that I find a way to manage my time and get back on track.

Missions Monday - part 2

"Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few."
Matthew 9:37, ESV

Jennifer checked the mail this morning; she hadn't checked it since Friday. And when she opened a package, it contained two library books-by-mail: one for Charlotte and one for me. The book for me is J.I. Packer's Evangelism & the Sovereignty of God. It seems to be a short book, and I look forward to starting it later this afternoon.

---

Father, there are billions of people in this world who are living their lives as your enemies. They do not know you, and they sin against you constantly. If only they could come to know you and your great love. In the name of Jesus, I pray that you will send out missionaries into the world to share your good news. Send missionaries into the unreached nations; send missionaries who are willing to risk themselves for your glory and the salvation of those trapped by earthly lusts. And let your church be missionary in their hometowns. Give us a heart for reaching our neighbors. Send your Spirit ahead of us to open the hearts of those to whom we minister. For we do not bring them worldly wisdom; we do not speak with eloquent words. But instead we seek to demonstrate your Spirit.

Amen.

Missions Monday

John Piper recently posted about praying for the suffering church in Orissa, India, where Christians are being blamed--and killed--by Hindus for the murder of a Hindu leader. Even though a communist revolutionary group has claimed responsibility for the murder, the Hindus insist the murder was part of a Christian missionary plot.

Piper cited Hebrews 13:3 as an example of why to pray for the suffering church.

“Remember those...who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”

I'd also like to add Matthew 25:34-40 (ESV):

Then the King will say those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

----

Father, your word says that Christians are being killed daily. "Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered." Yet your word also tells us, "in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us." Because of you, those of us who have been adopted into your family cannot be put to shame. We cannot lose our inheritance. We will be victorious when all things are made known.

Father, bring comfort to those in your church who are suffering through this persecution. Let them know that you are in control. Let them know that all things work for the good of those who love you and are called according to your purposes.

And I pray that in this time of trial, you will use your people in India to show your love and glory. May the Christians of that nation encourage one another and show forgiveness to those who seek to take their lives. May they be like Stephen, who as he was being stoned, saw your glory and sought his killers' salvation.

May those trapped in the evil of Hinduism see that there is a God of the universe and see their inability to warrant your favor. Call out from among them people who will become part of your family, people who will know what it means to find freedom from the seemingly endless cycle of sin and suffering.

And may those of us living in safer nations remember that we have received a blessing, like the Corinthian church, so that we can use our resources to help those in need. And may we be inspired to take on that missionary spirit among our own people, even to the point of risking our own lives to bring your good news to those who are dying apart from you.

In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.